Thomas King (died 1688) facts for kids

Thomas King (died 1688) was an English merchant and politician. He was a member of the House of Commons, which is like a part of today's Parliament, at different times between 1659 and 1679.

Thomas King: A 17th-Century Politician

Thomas King started his career as a merchant, someone who buys and sells goods. He married into a merchant family in Great Yarmouth, a town in England. In 1647, he became a "freeman" of Yarmouth, which meant he had certain rights as a citizen and could participate in the town's business. He also supplied food and other items to the navy during the time of Parliament.

Early Life and Business

In 1650, Thomas King moved his business to Harwich. He built a house and a warehouse there. However, in 1657, the government took over his property. They needed his house and warehouse to build a new dockyard for ships. After this, King moved his business to London.

Journey into Politics

In 1659, Thomas King was chosen to be a Member of Parliament (MP) for Harwich. This happened during a time called the Third Protectorate Parliament. An MP is a person elected to represent an area in the House of Commons. From 1660 to 1679, he helped collect taxes in Essex.

In 1661, King was elected MP for Harwich again, this time in the Cavalier Parliament. He continued to work in government roles, including helping to organize towns and cities in Essex between 1662 and 1663. He also helped collect taxes for Harwich from 1663 to 1679.

Challenges and Controversies

Thomas King's time as an MP was often linked to his efforts to earn money from his political position. There were also questions about his financial dealings.

What Was the Royal Fishery Company?

King was one of the people who started the Royal Fishery Company. This company was set up to help with fishing. However, a famous writer named Samuel Pepys wrote a very critical report about it in 1664. Pepys found that King had kept £429 of money that people had donated. Pepys also suggested that King had made it look like he gave the company his house in Harwich, which was worth £700. Pepys wondered if King had already sold or given away the house before this. He also pointed out another time when King seemed to be cheating the company.

Money Matters and Public Opinion

From 1666 to 1667, King was involved in collecting a tax called the hearth-tax in Suffolk. His business partners accused him of holding onto money he should have given to the government.

From 1671 to 1685, he was a "gentleman of the privy chamber," a special role close to the King. In 1675, he helped identify people who did not follow the official church.

In November 1675, King asked for £238 6s in wages for his work as an MP. He said his own business suffered because he had to live in London to attend Parliament all the time. People made fun of him for always asking for money and for being too eager to please the government. Poems and writings, like "The Chequer Inn" and "Flagellum Parliamentarium," criticized him. One writing, "A Seasonable Argument," even called him someone who took £50 for each Parliament session, plus food, drink, and clothes.

The town of Harwich said they could not pay King what he asked for. However, in 1677, they gave £90 to someone else to invest for them. In the winter of 1678, King became very sick with a lung illness called pleurisy. But he still managed to go to the House of Commons to vote for the government. Between 1680 and 1688, he received £2,486. This money was either interest for a loan he had given to King Charles I, or it was a gift from the King.

Later Years and Family

Thomas King passed away sometime between April and October 1688. After his death, the money he was receiving from the King was paid to his wife.

Thomas King was married twice. His first wife was Mary Gooch, whom he married in 1647. She was also from a merchant family in Great Yarmouth, and they had one son. His second wife was named Alice, and they had two sons. One of his sons, also named Thomas, later became an MP for Queenborough between 1696 and 1722.